The finest trees in England were planted by my
family; they raised several of your most beautiful churches;
they have built bridges, made roads, dug mines, and
constructed canals, and drained a marsh of a million of acres
which bears our name to this day, and is now one of the most
flourishing portions of the country. You talk of our taxation
and our wars; and of your inventions and your industry. Our
wars converted an island into an empire, and at any rate
developed that industry and stimulated those inventions of
which you boast. You tell me that you are the delegates of
the unrepresented working classes of Mowbray. Why, what would
Mowbray have been if it had not been for your aristocracy and
their wars? Your town would not have existed; there would
have been no working classes there to send up delegates. In
fact you owe your every existence to us. I have told you what
my ancestors have done; I am prepared, if the occasion
requires it, not to disgrace them; I have inherited their
great position, and I tell you fairly, gentlemen, I will not
relinquish it without a struggle."
"Will you combat the people in that suit of armour, my lord?"
said one of the delegates smiling, but in a tone of kindness
and respect.
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